Improvement in wood pavements



w.'w.BA'LL/1Ro. improvement in Wood -Pavements- Patented Apr`130,1872.

In S'Is WILLIAM W. BALLARD, yOF ELMIRA, NEW YORK.

ilVlPROVEMENT IN WOOD PAVEMENTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 126,171,` dated April30, 1872.

SPECIFICATION.

provements in wooden pavements; and consists in so forming the blocksthat they shall be supported by each other without having any portion oftheir base cut away, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

To enable those skilled to form the blocks and lay the pavement, I willproceed to describe the Inethod of cutting and manner of laying theblocks, referring to the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is aperspective view of a piece of pavement constructed of blocks embracingmy improvements. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same; and Fig. 3 is aside view of a piece of single 7 timber, showing the method ot' cuttingthe blocks.

Similar letters indicate like parts in the several views.

A represents the blocks, which are cut from the lumber B by oblique cutsC C, thus forming the base and top, each of greater extent than thewidth of the lumber from which they are cut, which is clearly shown a-ndfully deu scribed in Letters Patent granted to me on the 26th day ofMarch, 1872, and numbered 125,001. The upper portion of the block is cutaway on one side, forming the two or more sides, a. b b c, the angle ofjointure being more than afright angle. Opposite to this angle, and onthe other side of the block, a short angle is out away, forming thesidesl or lines d c e f fg g h, which leaves the base of the block justthe same as when the block was cut from the lumber, so that no waste ofmaterial is made.

When the blocks are laid in position the sides b c rest against, and aresupported from vertical displacement by, the sides g h ot' the adjacentblocks, and, in return, the sides d e' and cf (either or both) aresupported through the medium ot' the tilling-key, by, and rest against,the side at b of 'the adjacent block. The side g h issomewhat shorterthan the side bic, which v`ena-bles the iilling to go below the point orangle made by the jointure of the sides a b b c.

lI have shown in the drawing between each pair of blocks a differentmethod -ot' forming the depressed angle, in order that the scope of myinvention may not be conned to any particular shape of the concretespace, as the gist of my invention lies in forming them inA such way asto make the lower portion of one block rest against, and be supportedby, the lwer portion of its neighbor, and, in return, have the upperportion of said block support the upper portion of the other, throughthe medium of the filling, which thus becomes a key, the bases of theblocks not being cut away at all. N or do I wish to be confined, in thescope of my invention, to what are termed wedgeshaped blocks, for itwill be obvious, by reference to the'drawing, especially to the centralblock in Figs. l and 2, that the same result may be accomplished in arectangular block.

The filling which is to be introduced into the spaces may be ofconcrete, vulcanite, or anything else suitable for the purpose; and itwill be seen that when the pavement is laid and the lling properly putin that the blocks are securely held against vertical displacement.

The upper cutaway piece of the block may be so varied in shape that morethan the two sides a b b-c will be formed, as is clearly shown in thedrawing, and cuts in and upon the sides ot' the blocks may be made atany point, so that the base is not disturbed.

A very excellent method ot' cutting a rectangular block so as to embodythe features of my invention may be seen by reference to block numbered4, in Fig. 3, the space for tillingleft between such blocks being in theshape of a MF horn of plenty, the small end bending under cutaway,substantially as and for the purpose the angle of the adjacent block. vA set forth.

What I cla-im as new7 and desire to secure Witness my hand this 4thv dayof April7 A. by Letters Patent, is- D. 1872.

Awood pavement composed of blocks Whose W. BALLARD. bases are cutohliquely to the sides7 and s0 eut otherwise that they shall rest uponand be sup- Witnesses: ported each by the other and an intermediate WM.C. MCINTIRE, key-lling, and having no part of their base E. L. MARSH.

